This week’s BIG move: Moegsien Williams leaves Independent to join The New Age as editor

Nazeem Howa, CEO of The New Age announced this week that editor Ryland Fisher had resigned, and the position had been filled by Moegsien Williams.

“Williams is one of the most senior and respected editors in South Africa,” Howa said in a statement. Williams is currently editor-in-chief of Independent Newspapers Gauteng, which includes The Starand Pretoria News, and is the editorial director of the group. He was editor of The Star and Saturday Star until March this year.

Fisher has always been clear it was never his intention to stay at The New Age for a long time. “I’m leaving The New Age at the end of August and returning home to Cape Town. I intended to stay for only four months but stayed for 17, putting immense pressure on my relationship with my family and my business interests in Cape Town. I’m going to miss the paper but will hopefully have my life back. Thanks for all the support,” he said on Facebook.

Williams is a immensely experienced editor having previously edited the group’s Cape Town titles, the Cape Times, the Cape Argus and Weekend Argus. Prior to that, he was editor of South, an independent weekly that played a key media role in the anti-apartheid struggle in the eighties.

Real welcomes new deputy editor

Real, the magazine for black South African women published by Media24, has appointed Khanyi Mbuyisa to the position of deputy editor. Mbuyisa was previously Chief Copy Editor of TRUE LOVE, also part of the Media24 Women’s Interest division, and brings a wealth of experience in print media to the title.

Before joining Media24, she worked on titles as diverse as Business Day, City Press, Bona, New Age, and the SABC’s news website, gleaning a wealth of writing and editing experience.

“I’m looking forward to working closely with the magazine’s editor, Dudu Mvimbi Leshabane, as we take the magazine to new heights,” says Mbuyisa. “Realis a strong, solid brand with a carefully targeted readership. Real‘s readers are passionate, determined and thirsty for knowledge and resources, and they look to the magazine for support in navigating their way through the challenges of being a black woman in a modern society with strong ties to its traditional past.”

Mbuyisa is passionate about mentoring junior writers, and is determined to play an active role in mentoring upcoming talent in the media industry. “Media 24 is very supportive of this kind of initiative, so I am looking forward to nurturing young black women who want to enter the exciting world of print media,” she says

Du Plessis joins OHMSA as new executive director

Sarel du Plessis has been appointed as the new executive director for Out of Home Media South Africa (OHMSA), replacing Melissa Moore. Du Plessis, who was CEO of the Marketing Association of South Africa, intends to use his extensive experience, including that as a marketer and his understanding of out of home media research, to propel the industry forward.

“I am extremely pleased to have been chosen by my peers to lead OHMSA and I look forward to making a meaningful contribution to the out of home media platform, which is a powerful means for getting key messages to a burgeoning market,” said Du Plessis.

Du Plessis has been involved in the media industry for the past 33 years; he has served on most industry boards, such as the South African Advertising Research Foundation, the Advertising Standards Authority, Print Media South Africa and the Audit Bureau of Circulations. He also served on the OHMS research tender committee. OHMS is the official research survey conducted by the out of home media industry.

Who’s won what

Jupiter JHB awarded African Fast Food account

The Jupiter Drawing Room (Johannesburg) has been appointed to oversee the advertising for the “quick service restaurant” (QSR) franchising division of Innscor International – a company operating in eight African countries.

“We feel privileged to add Innscor International to our list of clients and to help the company achieve its core business objectives. Innscor want to take their communications to a whole new level with us,” said Alison Deeb, CEO of The Jupiter Drawing Room (Johannesburg).

“The insights to be gained with working in the quick service industry context and how that plays out in Africa, are very exciting for us. We will also incorporate our skills in the traditional and non-traditional advertising sphere to grow Innscor’s market share on the continent.”

She added that there was instant chemistry between client and agency, so strong that the traditional pitch process was foregone and work began almost immediately after the introductory meetings on the portfolio.

VWV wins Castle Milk Stout ‘Unplugged’ account

The VWV Group, South Africa’s leading brand experience agency dedicated to conceptualising and executing campaigns that connect consumers to the world’s leading brands, has been appointed by Castle Milk Stout (CMS) to bring to life the brand’s Unplugged music platform.

The CMS campaign will engage consumers with live and unplugged music performances by some of South Africa’s leading musicians against the backdrop of specially designed intimate venues. The campaign is crafted to enable consumers to experience the brand proposition – savouring genuine connections whilst savouring the smooth, dark taste experience of Castle Milk Stout.

Six flagship Unplugged events, launching in Johannesburg before touring to key cities, will be supported by 64 on-premise smaller scale Unplugged activations, extending the campaign’s reach to trade level engagement.

Who’s making moves

M&C Saatchi Mobile launches in South Africa

M&C Saatchi Mobile is to function alongside M&C Saatchi Abel, cross leveraging the South African Agency’s well established creative and strategic resources.

“M&C Saatchi Mobile has well established London, New York, Los Angeles and Paris offices. We are delighted to announce the expansion of our mobile offerings to South Africa,” said James Hilton, Global CEO of M&C Saatchi Mobile, in Sandton.

“We pride ourselves in being a true full service mobile and tablet marketing agency. We can assist with both the strategic and tactical approach to making mobile and tablet an integral part of the marketing strategy. This includes every kind of mobile mechanism available, from the simplest SMS through to smart phone applications and everything in between.”

“Since 2006 we’ve helped some of the world’s leading brands including BMW, Pfizer, DIOR, Topman, Reebok, Yahoo, Financial Times, Mini, BBC, Faberge, Speedo, Gordon Ramsay, Hyundai and Harper Collins, to understand the mobile channel and harness it to best support their business needs.”

Tasked with leading M&C Saatchi Mobile South Africa is Zeyad Davids. Having spent 14 years in leading roles in the digital space in Australia, he returned to South Africa over two years ago as managing partner, Digital at M&C Saatchi Abel.

Mortimer Harvey expands full-service offering with shopper marketing

Mortimer Harvey has introduced shopper marketing as a strategic new service offering to clients. Creative director, Brian Ferns, and business unit Head, Carolyn White, will head the new capability at the agency.

Gerald Harvey, chief creative officer of Mortimer Harvey, says the need to grow the consumer space of advertising into the shopper space is a natural progression for the agency. “Mortimer Harvey’s philosophy has always been about results-driven, integrated communications, hence the move to develop the shopper insight and strategic creative platforms that provide real and measurable results for brands in-store.”

Harvey says shopper marketing also has broader relevance that will impact positively on customer marketing in areas such as banking halls and motor showrooms. “A further opportunity is to align the shopper marketing experience and insights to the online space.”

Commenting on the challenge ahead, Brian Ferns believes shopper marketing growth lies in the ability to predict shoppers’ behaviour and provide real solutions. “This can only happen through a careful sifting of core insights into behaviours, brand challenges and the retail landscape in which we operate. With core insights and strategic creative ideas, we are able to align the brand’s business challenge with real and measurable results.”

MA(SA) strengthens position with new board appointments

With the appointment of two new board members, a new chairman and a newly appointed CEO, the Marketing Association of South Africa [MA(SA)] is well positioned to continue its role as an objective voice of the country’s marketers.

The new board members include CEO for Ads24 Linda Gibson and CEO for FNB Share Investing Gusta Binikos. MA(SA) officially welcomed Gibson and Binikos at the organisation’s AGM and is proud to be even further entrenched in all industries across South Africa. Corporate affairs director for McDonald’s Sechaba Motsieloa was elected as the new MA(SA) chairperson.

“With such experienced leading marketers joining our board, we are confident that our efforts to represent the best interests of marketers and their contribution to business will continue to be upheld,” says MA(SA) CEO Lovemore Mushayanyama. “We also recognise the importance of having a board that represents all industries and sectors from banking to FMCG to telecommunication.

In addition to the board being representative of the South African marketing landscape, they are also leaders in their field with the requisite knowledge and experience for MA(SA) to achieve its goals.

“As a section 21 company, MA(SA) works with advisory councils of high-profile corporate and individual marketers, academics, experts and thought-leaders, to address issues of national and strategic interest to the profession,” says Motsieloa. “Furthermore, our experienced and diverse board brings a wealth of knowledge that our members can draw from.”

Furthermore MA(SA) has set itself the mandate of improving the professionalism of the discipline. With this in mind, it works to ensure that marketers throughout South Africa uphold set ethical and professional standards. In this way, it seeks to sustain and develop credibility for the industry.

“The effort and achievements which MA(SA) realised in 2012 is testament to the outstanding effort made by the previous board members. I am confident that with their unique backgrounds and experience, our new board members will add value by highlighting their own areas of concern, and advising on matters of diversity and industry transformation to the role of marketing in the broader business sphere,” says Mushayanyama.

Isilumko Media Now a Level 2 Accredited BBBEE Company

Below-the-line activations and experiential media company, Isilumko Media (powered by Studentwise), has announced its latest BBBEE certificate rating that has been elevated from a Level 3 to a Level 2. The accreditation has been audited and issued by Empowerdex.

Company director, Lauren Durant said, “This improved rating places us in a unique position and is a real differentiator in the activations sector. We scored full marks in the categories of ownership, preferential procurement, enterprise development and socio economic development.”

Isilumko Media is currently undertaking a drive to become a Level 1 contributor and is making strides to create employment opportunities within the organisation for black disabled candidates, with an emphasis on black female disabled persons.

InMobi buys Metaflow Solutions

Bangalore-based InMobi, the largest independent mobile advertising network, today announced the acquisition of Metaflow Solutions, leaders in mobile app management and distribution solutions.

Metaflow technology simplifies the global deployment and content management process for developers through its intelligent submission tools optimised through six years of operations, servicing the biggest publishers in the market.

“As a global leader in the mobile advertising space, InMobi is committed to growing the mobile ecosystem. Our acquisition of Metaflow Solutions will help us to continue to rapidly expand the distribution and monetisation of content for our developers and publisher partners”, said Naveen Tewari, Founder and CEO at InMobi.

ACA membership grows as new members of the profession join

The Association for Communication and Advertising (ACA) announced that ad agencies M&C Saatchi Abel, Mohlaleng Media (Pty) Ltd, Dojo 115 and Flash Marketing (Pty) Ltd are the latest members join the Association. The ACA is the official representative body of the advertising and communications sector of South Africa. ACA members include approximately 100 ad agencies which contribute +R42 billion to measured ad spend in South Africa.

The growth in membership of the ACA is a testament to the importance of the role of the ACA as the self-regulator in a creative and dynamic sector.

Odette van der Haar, CEO of the ACA comments, “The integrity of the ACA and its members is of paramount importance. The modus operandi of the ACA has always been to voluntarily work together to sustain, maintain and grow the advertising and communications sector. The ACA undoubtedly exists to protect the interests of its members; but it also exists to further the interests of the industry as a whole.

“The ACA believes that a self-disciplined advertising profession, with a minimum of state regulations is a vital component in a free enterprise economy. Being part of the ACA means an ad agency buy into a common vision for the sector, sound principles for corporate governance as well as a professional code of conduct and ethics. The Association is proud to welcome M&C Saatchi Abel, Mohlaleng Media, Dojo 115 and Flash Marketing.”

SA Home Owner magazine partners with South African Institute of the Interior Design Professions

SA Home Owner magazine (SAHO) has been appointed the first media partner for The South African Institute of the Interior Design Professions (IID).

The partnership highlights SAHO’s support of the country’s home, design and décor industry, and investment into the Institute’s ethos of establishing, promoting and maintaining expertise, professionalism, sound business practice and high standards throughout the industry.

“We are thrilled with our partnership with the IID, and see the Institute as the watchdog of the interior industry, ensuring that home owners are connected with service providers who have sound business ethics, and the necessary qualifications to fully provide the services advertised,” says SA Home Owner editor, Kerry Hayes.

SAARF changes its name

SAARF, the research foundation behind AMPS, RAMS, TAMS and the LSMs, has a new name. Previously the South African Advertising Research Foundation, SAARF is now the South African Audience Research Foundation. The name change, initiated by the SAARF Board, has been officially accepted by the Commissioner of the CIPC.

“SAARF is the custodian of the industry’s media audience currencies, and sets the standard for audience research in South Africa; the new name better reflects this,” says SAARF’s CEO, Dr Paul Haupt.

Note: TheMediaOnline has a job advertising service. The site is read by media professionals across South Africa. A job posting on the Media Online Costs R342 (incl VAT) and appears for 30 days. It appears both on the Media Online site and Memejobs.com.

Follow Us

ABOUT US

The Media Online is the definitive online point of reference for South Africa’s media industry offering relevant, focused and topical news on the media sector. We deliver up-to-date industry insights, guest columns, case studies, content from local and global contributors, news, views and interviews on a daily basis as well as providing an online home for The Media magazine’s content, which is posted on a monthly basis. Find out more here